Fire-control apparatus for guns



July 30, 1929. H. JUST ET AL FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GUNS Filed Dec.12, 927' Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED "(STATES 1,722,923 ATENT OFFICE.

Hammer: JUST Ann nnnmann HORT, or 'nssnu, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS 'ro FRIED.Knurr AKTLENGESELLSGEAFT, or ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

rmn-con'rnor. APPARATUS ron Guns.

Application filed December 12, 1927, Serial No. 239,577, and in GermanyOctober 27, 1926.

This invention relates to fire control apparatus for a gun having a rockng foundation which comprises a mounting on said foundation, a sightingmeans carrier cardamcally arranged on sai mounting, a gyroscoperotatable about an axis fixed on said sight; ing means carrier, and abody adjustable for elevation independently of the gyroscope, and theobject of this invention is to so construct an apparatus of the kindstated having an electrical firing device comprising two adj ustablecontact members adapted to register one with the other that the angularposition of the axis of the gyroscope cannot be disturbed by theadjusting movement imparted to said contact members. An indicatingdevice may further be combined in a simple manner with the firingdevice, which indicating device gives the commander of the guns a clearimage of the position the gun barrels assume relative to the pointingaxis arranged on the observing station, the commander thus being enabledto take suitable precautionsto increase the firing speed'or to eliminatedisturbance;

' Cardan ring G formed by the trunnions e 80 .representing the pointingaxis of the observduring the pointing operation. ,1

An embodiment of the fire control apparatus forming the subject matterof the present invention and intended for naval guns is illustrated, byway of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which: a

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, looking in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the ship, partially in section."Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1, looking from the left.

Referring to these Figures, A denotes the ship and A a pedestal rigid onit and mounted at the observing station. An arcuate hear- 6 This bearingbody B constitutes the frame, laterally adjustable in the direction ofthe aim, of a sighting device. A lateral training gear with ahand wheelC is provided for bearing body B. This training gear is connected to thetraining gears D of the guns by an electric long-distance control devicehav-' ing a transmitter 0' and a plurality of receivers (1 correspondingto the number of guns. In the drawing only a single unis illustrated asthe firing. operation is 51c same for all the guns. The axis ofcurvature of the arcuate bearing body B and the axis of the pivot 72'intersect in apoint Z, and an adjustable semi-circular member E ismounted in the the trunnions passes through point 1 at right angles tothe axis of rotation of member On the Cardan ring G is mounted for free5 swing motion a casing H by means of two trunnions h, the common axisof which passes at right angles through the axis of the trunnions e inthe point 1.. A sighting telescope H is mounted on casing H. A pointer Jis mounted on casing H for rotation around the axis of the trunnions M,which pointer may be set to the firing-angle A corresponding to thedistance of the aim relative to the sighting telescope H by means of asmall electric motor it mqunted on casing H. The pointer J carrles amark 2' that may register with a corresponding marktg of the Cardan ringG. The mark g} is so located, that the axis of the maticall in a mannerknown in itself, that the mar s z" and g register. In the casing H ismounted a. gyroscope K by means of which the sighting line of thetelescope H, pointed on the'aim, and the elevation of the pointer Jarranged .on casing H may be fixed in space in vertical direction for asuflicient length of time. And due to the action of the automaticcontrolling device including the contact pieces 11' and g the pointingaxis formed by the axis of the trunnions e is also maintained in itsvertical position in space.

On the mounting L of each gun is arranged an electric motor L intendedto drive the elevating gear and having a device for regulating itsspeed, said elevating gear having a toothed are m fixed on the cradle Mof the gl'in. A shaft N vertically mounted on the n mountin L isinpositivel connection with the toot ed are m, whichrshaft serves gunmounting and to actuate a following pointer of the receiver L arrangedon the gun mounting of a long distance controlling apparatus operatingon the follow-the -pointer system. The receiver L may be adjusted fromthe observing station to the firlng angle A corresponding to thedistance of the aim and serves together with the elevating motor L foradjusting the gun barrel in elevation. Each receiver is fitted withmeans for allowing account being taken of a supplemental elevation dueto the degreeof wear of the gun barrel.

An electrical firing device, the casing L of which is mounted on the gunmounting, is

provided for each gun; In each casing L is mounted for free rotation anannular body Q, carrying an adjusting mark 9 which forms a contactpiece. A pointer R is further rotatably mounted in the casing Lco-axially with the annular body Q, which pointer is likewise fittedwith a mark 1' to mark 9 and forming a contact piece. The contact pieces9 and 'r -lie in the firing circuits belonging to the individual gunsand having a common additional switcharranged at the commanding stationcommon to all guns. The pointer R can be adjusted by means of a wormgearing r which is so positively connected to shaft N through theintermediary of a shaft N positively connected thereto and by a shaftingN mounted on the positively connected to shaft N by :a bevel gear n thatthe pointer R and the gun barrel always turn in equal 7 same elevationas the or proportional angles. *A- device intended to take account of anangle of pre-ignition corresponding to the elevating speed may beinterposed beforethe bevel gear 92 In this case the pointer R hasimparted to it an angular position modified by the angle ofprelgnit-ion.

An electric long distance controlling apparatus-2 is provided for eachannular body Q of the firing devices of the individual guns,

which apparatus have a common transmitter F connected to the motor F ofthe observing station so that an angular posit-ion corresponding to theelevation of the pointing axis arranged at the observing station (axisof the trunnions 0 can be imparted to-the annular bodies Q. A deviceintended to take account of an angle of pro-ignition corresponding tothe rolling speed of the ship may be arranged before the transmitter Fin which case the annular bodies Q, have im parted to them an angularposition altered by the angle of pre-ignition. When the marks r and gregister, each gun has the pointing axis (axis of the observing station,

except for the angles of pre-ignition and a supplemental angle ofelevation taken account. ofat'lthe receiver L At" the common commandingstation there f is arranged a receiver of an electric longdiscorresponding mark 9 ,The front surface of the'annular body Q isdifferently colored on both sides of the diameter determined by the mark9 e. g. yellow on the upper half denoted by g and blue on the lower half'9 The annular body Q is connected by. a wiring 2 to the long distancecontrolling apparatus F by means of which the same angular position canbeimparted to it as to the annular bodies Q.

The casing A has iotatably mounted in it a pointer R co-axial with theannular body Q Pointer R corresponding to the pointer R carries anadjusting mark r co-operating with the mark 9 adjusted by an electriclong distance controlling apparatus 3 which may be actuated selectivelyfrom transmitters S arranged on the individual guns and positivelyconnected with the shafting N whereby the same angular position isimparted to the pointer R as to the pointer R belonging to the gun inquestion. -A wire 9 is fixed on the front surface of the casing A beforethe annular body Q and the pointer R which wire extends in 'thedirection of a diameter that denotes the angular position of the planeof the gun platform.

When the trunnions k assume horizontal position, and the sightingtelescope H which is automatically fixed-in elevation in space by thegyroscope K, has been pointed to the aim by means of a hand wheel C of.the traming gear of the observing station, and the pointer J has beenadjusted to the firing angle A relativeto the gyroscope casing H and tothe sighting telescope H by means of the motor 72., and the member E hasbeen turned into such an angular position by motor F, that the marks 9and i register, then, at any inclined position of the ships body, agunbarrel, the axis of the bore of which coincides withthe pointing axisformed by the axis of the trunnions e of the observing station, would becorrectly pointed on the aim, that is, the'point-ing error, due to thecanting of the guns horizontal trunnions would be eliminated. When themarks g and 1 of the firing devices of the individual guns register, allthe guns have the same elevation as the pointing axis of the commandingstation, ex-

The pointer R can be tery commanding station, that the gun is ready. Thecommander then connects the pointer R of the receiver located at thebattery station with the transmitter S of one of the guns ready forfiring, and the pointer R is adjusted to the same angular position asthus forms an image of the position of the gun barrels relative to theplane of the platform of the guns by its position reggive to the mark,formed by the wire a 0 he receiver casing A The annular body Q theangular position of which corresponds to the elevation, invariable inthe space, of the pointing axis of the observing station, executes a toand fro swing m otion relative to the receiver casing A d e to therolling motion of the ship. The ark g of body Q deflects by equal anglesrom a middle position denoted by pointer lt if the ship has a horizontalfloating position, as is the rule. When the snip is rolling upward (onthe side of'the muzzle of thei'gun barrel), the pointer mark 7' is inthe rangeof the upper yellow half 91'' of the annular body and, when theship is rolling downward,- in the range of the lower blue half g Byobserving the marks r and Q3 of the indicating members Q and R 0tbarrels are the pointer R of the gun in consideration, and,

and 1' of the gun allotted to the receiver A Q R also register, and themarks of the other guns approximately register, so that all the guns aretired approximately in a volley. Then all the guns are brought intoloading position, loaded, and adjusted anew as to the distance of theaim, whereupon they are signalled as Ready. As the shots were tiredbefore the-ship had attaiuedlthe horizontal position" in rollingdownwards a sulfieiently longtime is at disposal for the carrying out"of these operations during the period of time the ship takes to reachits lower positi/ori. With the upward motion of the shi the elevatinggears of theguns are starte on the order Lower breech end in a ,mannercorresponding to that described with the downward motion, and all shotsare fired again nearly simultaneously while the gun turned throughbefore the ship has reached its horizontal floating position. Thereuponthe next volley is prepared at once .and fired in the above-describedmanner after the indicating device formed by the receiver A Q? R thecommander is able to ascertain at any moment where the ship' is in itsupper or lower position. When the ship is in the upper position and thepointer mark 1' is at its greatest angular distance from the mark 9within the range of the upper yellow half 9 of body Q and the guns areto be fired while being turned through during the subsequent downwardroll of the ship, them, after the elevating motors L of all the guns 7have been set to the same speed and the firing circuit has been closedby throwing-in the additional switch located in the battery commandingstation, the commander gives the order Raise breech end, or he startsthe elevatin gears of the guns in the desired direction liy operating asuitable switch of an The muzzles of the gun barrels now movewithadditional speed in the sense of the rolling motion, and the mark rtravels towards the mark 9 with a correspondingly increased speed. Assoon-as these two marks register, which now takes place before the shipreaches the horizontal floating position, the marks g the beginning ofthe next downward motion of the ship. As can be seen, a suflicientlylong time is at disposal with the described mode of operation, to firetwo volleys during each rolling period.

When notable difierences arise between the individual guns as to therequired amount of supplemental elevation, so that the gun barrels' intheir firing positions deviate by corresponding angular amounts from theparallel position, it may happen, when small rolling angles areencountered of the same degree as these angular amounts, that upon theorder Raise breech end or Lower breech end some of the guns are notfired. In this event the orders Raise breech end and Lower breech end,or inversely, must be given shortly afterone another; the shots lostupon the second one. g

This invention also enables redress at once,

when the guns are fired while rolling through, in case the ship has inposition of rest an inclined floating position or lists over so that themarks T and are unable to register upon the ship rolling. For, 'in thiscase the mark g of the receiver of the (1 m: manding station does notdeflect uniformly toward both sides relative to the mark 1' As soon asthe commander observes this. fact, a regulation corresponding to thisangle of listis madein the receivers L of all guns, so

that the guns now have imparted to them an elevation modified by thisangle of list and the pointers R and R assume again at leastapproximately a middle position, from which the marks 9 or g deflect byequal angles to ward both sides. The guns then can be fired when"rollingthrough.

' What we claim and Letters Patent, is

1. A fire control apparatus for a gun desire to secure by the firstorder then are fired upon 7 having a rocking foundation comprising amounting on said foundation, a-sighting. means carrier cardanically.arranged on said mounting, a gyroscope rotatable about an axis fixed onsaid sighting means carrier,

a inember adjustable relative to said sighting means carrier for rangeand establishing an cording to the elevation of said gun,'and

connections arranged between the other of said contact members and saidbody whereby an adjustment is imparted to said last-named contact membercorresponding to the elevation of said body.

2. A device according to claiml, in which said last-named connectionscomprise a long distance control apparatus.

3. A fire control apparatus according to claim 1, in which said mountingis rotatable in lateral direction and carries saidbody adjustable forelevation independently ofgsaid gyroscope, said sighting means carrierbeing cardanically mounted on said bod I 4. A fire control apparatus ora gun having a rocking foundation comprising a mounting onsaid-foundation, two adjustable index members arranged on said mountingand adaptedto register one with the other,

' a body adjustable for elevation, means formaintaining the elevationimparted to said body in space independently of the rocking movement ofsaid foundatiomconnections so arranged between one of said index membersand said gun that said index member is adjusted according to theelevation of said gun, and connections arranged between the other ofsaid index members and said body whereby an adjustment is imparted tosaid last-named index member corresponding to the elevation of saidbody.

5. In a fire control apparatus according to claim 4, means arranged onthe mounting for said index members adapted to indicate the angular{position of the foundation.

6. A re control apparatus for a gun having a rocking foundationcomprising a mounting on said foundation, a sighting means carriercardanically arranged on said mounting, a gyroscope rotatable about anaxis fixed on said sighting means carrier, a body adjustable forelevation independently of said gyroscope, an electrical firing devicecomprising two adjustable contact members adapted to register one withthe other, two adjustable index members adapted to register one with theother, connections so arranged between one of said contact members, oneof said index members and said gun that said contact and index membersare adj usted according to the elevation of said gun, and

connections arranged between the other of said contact and index membersand said body whereby an adjustment is imparted to said last-namedcontact and index members corresponding to the elevation of said body.7. In a fire control apparatus according to claim 4 for a plurality ofguns means for selectively connecting each of said guns to one of saidindex members, the other index ,member being connected to said bodyadjustable for elevation.

The foregoing specification signed at Colpgne, Germany, this 25 day ofNovember, 192

HEINRICH .rusr. ,HERMANN HORT.

